Ruling Party's Approval Rating Rises, Emphasizes Livelihood Amid Pressure on Corruption Investigation Office and Constitutional Court

Some Out-of-Parliament Branch Leaders Accuse Oh Dongwoon of Treason
Allegations of Collusion Raised, Citing Close Ties Between Lee Jaemyung and Moon Hyungbae
Special Committee on Economic Vitality and Livelihood Convenes to Discuss Policies for the Vulnerable

On the 21st, when President Yoon Seok-yeol appeared at the Constitutional Court impeachment trial, the People Power Party pressured both the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (PCC) and the Constitutional Court while simultaneously launching a livelihood-focused campaign. Recently, the People Power Party's approval ratings have risen in various polls, and it appears they are moving beyond consolidating their support base to securing public sentiment ahead of the early presidential election phase.

At the party floor meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, stated regarding the PCC's attempt to forcibly summon President Yoon, "The president clearly expressed his refusal to testify after the execution of the arrest warrant, so even if they forcibly summon him, it is of no practical benefit." He added, "If (President Yoon) cannot appear at the impeachment trial due to the PCC's forcible summons, it will inevitably be considered obstruction."

Seventy-two out-of-parliament party branch chairpersons opposing the impeachment from the People Power Party raised issues about the illegality of President Yoon's arrest warrant and its execution process, and instead filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office accusing Oh Dong-woon, head of the PCC, and Woo Jong-su, head of the National Investigation Headquarters, of treason.

There were also claims that the rapid pace of President Yoon's impeachment trial compared to other cabinet members' impeachment trials was a collusion between the Constitutional Court and the Democratic Party of Korea. Floor leader Kwon pointed out, "The Ministry of Justice under Minister Park Seong-jae submitted two opinion letters to the Constitutional Court requesting a speedy trial, but the court ignored them and gave the National Assembly side two weeks each to submit the Ministry of Justice minister's impeachment evidence plan," calling it "a deliberate delay tactic of collusion between the Constitutional Court and the Democratic Party."

He also mentioned the past relationship between Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, and Moon Hyung-bae, acting president of the Constitutional Court, noting that they were classmates at the Judicial Research and Training Institute and members of the Labor Law Society together, emphasizing, "(Lee and Acting President Moon) are very close friends, which is widely known in the legal community."

The People Power Party, which has raised procedural issues regarding President Yoon's arrest and detention, is also interpreted as consistently expressing doubts about the impeachment trial to maintain the cohesion of conservative supporters.

Kwon Seong-dong, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, and Kwon Seong-dong, Floor Leader, are taking a commemorative photo with the special committee members at the Economic Vitality and Livelihood Special Committee Appointment Ceremony and the 1st General Meeting held at the National Assembly on the 21st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

In line with the inauguration of the Trump administration, the party also began actively targeting the moderate middle ground sensitive to economic policies by discussing livelihood measures. That afternoon, the People Power Party held the first plenary meeting of the Special Committee on Economic Vitality and Livelihood, chaired by Yoon Hee-sook, director of the Yeouido Institute, deciding to develop policies to protect vulnerable groups such as the elderly, workers in small businesses, single-person households, and isolated reclusive youth. Considering the increasing severity of issues like isolated reclusive youth, suicide among middle-aged men, and elderly loneliness deaths, they plan to establish a related task force under the Prime Minister's Office to seek solutions by sector.

Kwon Young-se, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, emphasized, "Our economy faces a double hardship as both exports and domestic demand, the two pillars of our economy, are likely to worsen more than ever before. Moreover, with a leadership vacuum in the presidency, public anxiety is growing." He continued, "Despite this situation, the major opposition party only talks about livelihood and the economy but lacks any concept of national finances or concern for the country's future, instead shouting populist policies that indiscriminately distribute cash to all citizens."

While opposing the Democratic Party's proposal to provide 250,000 won in regional currency nationwide, the People Power Party shows a willingness to accept the necessity of a supplementary budget. They plan to focus on early execution of allocated budgets, spending 40% in the first quarter and 70% in the first half of the year on livelihood and economic revitalization projects, and then consider additional supplementary budgets. Floor leader Kwon is scheduled to meet party leader Lee on the 22nd, where discussions on the supplementary budget are also expected.

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the party's policy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 21st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

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